Mayor Andy Berke, in his annual State of the City Address on Thursday, said he plans to establishing the city’s first Affordable Housing Fund.

He said the city plans to commit $1 million to the fund "that will be used exclusively to aid the creation of affordable and workforce housing throughout Chattanooga. These funds will be used to supplement federal funding, various tax incentives, and special grants utilized by the city of Chattanooga and its private sector partners to promote affordable, high-quality housing."

He said, "Chattanooga’s metropolitan economy is stronger now than at any point in recent history. Our unemployment rate is at 3.6 percent, we’re creating jobs twice as fast as the national economy, we’ve seen the third highest wage growth for a mid-size city, and sales tax revenues are 10 percent higher than they were at this point last year. Growth is good -- but as our city rises, so does the cost of living for many Chattanoogans.

Mayor Berke also said the Innovation District will be further developed.

He said it will involve the redevelopment of several city-owned properties in the district, including the City Hall Annex. This aligns with the goals of the Innovation District framework plan, which was released in March 2018, he said.

The mayor said, "With the opening of the Edney Innovation Center last year, the formation of our MetroLab partnership with the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and more than $1 billion in new development underway in our downtown core, we have proven that our city can support a thriving technology sector that is built on a vibrant and welcoming urban community. Our challenge now is to keep this momentum going while redoubling our efforts to be as inclusive and equitable as we can. City Government recognizes an opportunity and a responsibility to play a significant role."

He said any potential costs borne by the city of Chattanooga, including any incentives or grants, are unknown at this point and will be determined through a transparent and open RFP process.

Mayor Berke also announced the creation of the Mayor’s Council Against Extremism & Hate (CAEH). He said it is a volunteer committee of citizens and community leaders working together to create an open, tolerant and diverse Chattanooga.

He stated, "Across Tennessee and the rest of the country, incidents of hate-speech and extremismare on the rise. I am committed to creating a Chattanooga that is tolerant and accepting of everyone. This council will address incidents fueled by hatred and extremism and will coordinate closely with local law enforcement, while providing affected communities with the support they need.

Another initiative to adding 1,000 high-quality seats to the Office of Early Learning programs by 2021

It involves continuing the long-term investment in Chattanooga’s youth by improving programs geared toward early learning and investment in teacher training and professional development.

High-quality seats are "places where children get the experiences needed to succeed in their future and families are supported in reaching their goals."

Mayor Berke said, "In 2017, Chattanooga children enrolled in Head Start made 29 percent gains in literacy and math. Whereas we saw 19 percent gains in literacy and 18 percent gains in math two years ago. Families enrolled in our Baby University program have zero percent infant mortality rate. Compared to an 11 percent infant mortality rate for all black babies in Chattanooga, and 10 percent of babies in the targeted zip codes . Additionally, every teen mother enrolled in Baby U is on track to graduate high school. While the drop-out rate for teen mothers nationally is 53 percent. We’re making a lot of progress but we have an obligation and an opportunity to do even more."

He said he intends to ask for financial commitments to training and professional development programs for early childcare providers in the FY 2019 budget, as well as leveraging investments from the private sector, state and federal funding and community collaborations.

Kelvin Brooker has been sentenced to serve two years in federal prison in a case that originated when his car ran out of gas. Brooker appeared before Judge Sandy Mattice. On May 11, 2017, officers with the Chattanooga Police Department made contact with Brooker on the side of the road after his vehicle had run out of gas. Officers agreed to watch his car as he took a taxi ... (click for more)

A man who said he watched child pornography with his wife over a period of about a year has been sentenced to serve 78 months in federal prison. William McBryar appeared before Judge Sandy Mattice. McBryar earlier pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting another in the possession of child pornography. Agents found a large number of images of child engaging in sexual activity ... (click for more)

It is embarrassing and saddening how the historic Brown's Ferry Tavern looks right now. It is disgusting. Whoever the new owner is has left this amazing piece of our local history to rot. Pieces are falling off the roof and chimney. The grounds: grass, bushes, trees are so overgrown and out-of-control that it is disgraceful. Private property ... (click for more)

There was a time, not so long ago, when school-aged children would learn lessons from a prescribed text, such as a textbook. Today texting is far, far different and, as any of our teachers will tell us, cell phones have become the scourge of education. In almost every classroom, kids will silently text in the shadow of the desk in front of them rather than focus on the lesson. Yet ... (click for more)

Robert Catlett may have been a little bit nervous before Hixson’s first volleyball match of the season Monday evening, but the guy who is now the head coach for the Lady Wildcats after many years as their assistant didn’t seem to show it. Hixson hosted the Boyd-Buchanan Lady Buccaneers in both team’s season opener and it was also the first match for first year Lady Buc coach ... (click for more)